America's First Bell Foundry
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 04.904 W 070° 55.626
19T E 340603 N 4660648
Quick Description: The first foundry dedicated to making bells was here in the 'Little Comfort' section of Old Abington, now called Whitman.
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 2/15/2007 3:48:11 PM
Waymark Code: WM17W4
Views: 39
Long Description:The plaque says:
"[Image of two bells one with an 'A' and the other with an 'H']
America's First Bell Foundry stood 200 feet south of this
point.
"Established 1769
"by
"Colonel Aaron Hobart
"Patriot Paul Revere learned bell casting in this foundry
Whitman Historical Commission 1983"
The plaque is at the corner of South Street, Old South Street,
and Crescent Street.
The Dyer Memorial Library has books that tell of both the bell
foundry and the cannon foundry, which appear to have been at
separate locations, run by the same man. In particular, there is an
article about an archaeological investigation of the site conducted
by the Smithsonian Institute. They found metal slag that was of the
type of composition found in bells, as well as remnants of the
foundation of possible foundries.
Stories differ as to whether Paul Revere came down to learn the
process, or Hobart sent his son up to Paul Revere's foundry, at the
time in the North End. The general consensus is the latter. Hobart
learned the trade from a man named Gillmore, who was from the
British Army, and helped Hobart in the making of the first
bells.
Very few of these bells are known to exist. One is at a church
in Salisbury, NH (though one source said MA).